Women’s health is an area I work with extensively. Below are just some of the things that women come to see me about -if you have any questions please contact me directly.

Premenstrual Syndrome, Irregular/No periods

Menopause

PCOS, Endometriosis, Fibroids

Infertility

 

Understanding how one feels emotionally and mentally is important in a consultation, not only as very often people see me because they want to improve this, but also because this will affect one’s physical health too.

Anxiety, depression, poor mental clarity, irritability, anger and grief are all conditions that I address.

Physical weaknesses, malnutrition and fatigue can contribute to these. A rundown body can act a bit like a sponge on one’s mental clarity and sharpness. This is easy to witness in a child who is tired and how this will affect their behaviour. Nutritional deficiencies are very common in adults and children and this affects energy levels and has a ‘knock on’ affect with how one feels emotionally.

Migraines and headaches are one of the most common health complaints that occur with people these days. So often we are quite happy to take a painkiller and forget about it – well why not, after all the headache or migraine is gone!

Well, the pain has gone, but what of the cause? Your head is very rarely the cause of the pain you experience, so if you ignore the cause what else could it be doing in your body and what could occur in the future if we do not control it now?

Your Body and Migraines & Headaches

The body is an engine and like any machine if it is not given the tools and equipment it needs it will break down and not work as efficiently as it ought to.

A body given poor nutrition and care will get rundown and will be more susceptible to conditions such as headaches and migraines.

Yet, many people with headaches and migraines have relatively good diets and still become rundown – this is largely due to the quality of the food we are exposed to these days, for example recent research has shown that within 24 hours of fruits and vegetables being picked they can lose up to 50% of their nutritional quality.

I have been visited by thousands of people with migraines and headaches and the amazing thing is that contrary to the popular belief that nothing can be done about migraines and headaches except to mask the pain with powerful painkillers – they can often be fixed up relatively easily.

Getting rid of your migraines or headaches does require that you understand a little bit about them.

If you are experiencing migraines and headaches there is a high probability that you have taken painkillers like Aspirin or Paracetamol. I understand why this is done as getting rid of the pain that debilitates so many is the first concern – not necessarily what is causing it or if a complex chemical reaction is occurring in your head.

The first key piece of data you need to know is that headaches and migraines are very rarely caused by the head. They are caused by other sources that affect this complicated part of the body. This is what what we will go over in your consultation.

There are causes of headaches and migraines that have their source in the mind itself – but when the body is not working properly these painful and disorientating complaints are exacerbated.

A common question is:

Painkillers kill the pain but why do I get  these headaches? What lies behind them?  What is the cause?

There are really only a handful of causes for regular headaches and migraines, which do not have serious injuries or health issues as their cause.

Common causes are:

1) Psychosomatic

2) Back and neck

3) Digestion

4) Hormonal

5) Poisoning

Determining the Cause

To determine the cause of a migraine or headache it is necessary to investigate what is happening elsewhere in the body.

For example, how is digestion? Constipated? For women: how are your monthly cycles? Irregular? Painful? Nothing at all? Even details, such as which part of the head is hurting will help isolate the cause.

One of the most common causes I find when consulting is from the digestive system. It works like this: toxins leak from an overworked or poorly working bowel into the bloodstream reentering the body and rising up to the head causing headaches, but also skin problems and sinus congestion. This is not only with constipated people, but often with people who move their bowel’s at least once a day.

The causes of the bowel allowing these toxins to re-enter the body are quite numerous, but most common are:

• Run down nervous system resulting in
  stress on the digestive system.
• Lack of sufficient good bowel bacteria, usually
  destroyed by chemicals, antibiotics, contraceptive
  pill, and even the chemicals in our tap water.

Substances in food, house dust and pollen can cause anything from a running nose to digestive upsets or migraines and even more severe.

Such sensitivities are becoming increasingly common. For example, allergy related illnesses, such as asthma, eczema and hay fever are affecting about one in three children before they reach the age of 11. About 10% of adults suffer from migraines, and 10% suffer from eczema.

Many of these conditions can be triggered by reactions to food. As people grow older their susceptibility and response to certain allergens with often change, particularly where these stem from diet.

If you suspect a food sensitivity it can often be diagnosed through elimination diets, skin testing or muscle testing. However, sometimes, there are no obvious clues, which can be frustrating.

Often a person will crave the very thing they are intolerant to, which can be a surprising and interesting clue.

Below I have listed the most common food sensitivities and typical symptoms, in descending order, with milk being the most common:

Milk

Foods: Dairy produce, such as milk, butter, cream, ice cream, cheeses, yogurt.

Symptoms: Constipation, diarrhoea, wind, acne, rhinitis, catarrh, mucus, asthma, migraines (from cheese particularly). Babies may suffer more from wind, colic, catarrh, eczema.

Gluten

Foods: Flour, bread, biscuits, barley, rye, beer, canned soups, stock cubes, rusk containing processed foods, hydrolysed vegetable protein.

Symptoms: Migraine, constipation, bloating, eczema, psoriasis, celiac disease

Eggs

Foods: Usually egg whites cause the problem. Cakes, puddings, meringues, mayonnaise, mousses, ice cream.

Symptoms: Rashes, swelling and stomach upsets. Can contribute to asthma as well as eczema.

Fish

Foods: Smoked fish, eg kippers.

Symptoms: Migraine, nausea, skin rashes, swelling and stomach upsets.

Shellfish

Foods: All types, from lobster, prawn, crab to clams, oysters, scallops and mussels.

Symptoms: Lengthy stomach upsets, diarrhea, migraine, and nausea.

Nuts

Foods: Peanuts, walnuts, cashews and pecans, for example. Can be found in a wide range of products in various amounts, such as nutty breads, biscuits, desserts, ice cream and oils.

Symptoms: Rashes, swelling, asthma and eczema. In severe cases potentially anaphylactic shock.

Soya Beans

Foods: Soy sauce, soya flour, soya milk and tofu, soya oil, cake mixes, some canned condensed soups.

Symptoms: Headaches, indigestion.

Additives

Foods: Wide range of packaged, processed and take away foods and drinks.

Symptoms: hyperactivity, behavioural changes.

Come and see me at the Galleria if you would like to find out more. To help isolate common food intolerances I can do muscle testing at the Galleria. Food elimination diets and homeopathics are also useful in helping to address food intolerances and I can advise on this individually.

Many women come to me having had unsuccessful rounds of IVF where the underlying cause of the infertility has been bypassed and pregnancies not taken. This can become expensive, time consuming and heart wrenching for many women.

If a pregnancy is not happening naturally this is an indicator of the body telling us that something needs to be fixed first.

“I truly believe that if it wasn’t for your treatment this wonderful joy would never have been afforded to us. I can not thank you enough.”

Common Questions

Finding out real answers is a vital step in resolving fertility issues. Here are just some of the questions that many of my clients have:

• What is the cause of me not falling pregnant?
• How can I minimize the chances of miscarrying?
• Is my age a problem?
• How long is the treatment?
• What is the success rate?
• Will it work for me?
• How demanding is the treatment on us?
• Do we both have to do the program?
• How does this fit with IVF or IUI?

Underlying Cause

Addressing and correcting the underlying cause of infertility problems is absolutely key so that conception can occur and be sustained and also to promote a healthy pregnancy for mother and child.

What is very clear to me is that my clients quite rightly want confidence that their time and energy is going to be well spent by investing in this natural fertility program.

Everyone that comes to me will have their own unique situation, but there are some common underlying themes which regularly present in cases of infertility.

Treatment lengths will vary depending on the underlying cause, but will usually be approximately 1-5 months. I apply nutritional, herbal and homeopathic medicine, depending on each person’s particular requirements and also draw on the research by homeopath and fertility specialist Liz Lalor, who has achieved a success rate of over 80%, and also on research by fertility specialist and Naturopath Francesca Naish who has specialized in this area for 30 years.

What You Can Do to Enhance Fertility

A healthy body is a fertile body

Preconception healthcare is vitally important even for those not experiencing fertility problems to ensure that you are in the best health and that your pregnancy and labour are as healthy and successful as possible.

To achieve this involves dietary steps and nutritional support and where indicated remedies to rebalance the body and address specific underlying factors contributing to fertility problems.

For women the following areas can be addressed if needed:

• Regulating ovulation
• Hormonal rebalancing
• Improving uterine health
• Addressing the quality and quantity of fertile mucus
• Undo the effects of the oral contraceptive pill
• Clearing of yeast overgrowth and thrush
• Clear blocked fallopian tubes
• Correct nutritional deficiencies
• Address the person’s overall wellbeing, such as energy and vitality, as well as other presenting issues
• Make lifestyle and dietary changes

For men the following areas can be addressed if needed:

• Improving sperm count
• Improving sperm motility
• Improving health and quality of sperm
• Correcting nutritional deficiencies
• Making lifestyle and dietary changes
• Another important factor is a well timed conception, where old eggs and sperms are avoided so that you are conceiving at the optimum time in your cycle.

Factors Affecting Fertility

The quality of the food we are exposed to today, the water we drink, stress, exposure to alcohol, drugs and tobacco, as well as other chemicals, medications and the contraceptive pill, are all things that have fundamentally affected our fertility.

The average age of conception is also higher. All these factors individually can affect fertility, reproductive and general health, and when several are present the affects are more pronounced.

In Australia today there are one in six couples that are now categorized as infertile.

The world we live in today is very different to that of our ancestors, when fertility was something that was taken for granted very much more.

Tracking Your Cycle

At your consultation you will be given a fertility pack with a dietary guide, charting sheets and information on how to track your cycle, which is useful in helping to isolate any potential areas to be addressed.

Hello Nick,

Well our little boy is nearly 5 weeks old. We are so grateful to your knowledge about boosting our natural fertility. We really were not sure if we could have children as we were trying for a number of years, and now we have our little miracle.

Thankyou for being so accomodating especially as we were living in Port Hedland, and so approachable so I felt comfortable phoning when I had questions, and you know I have recommended you to many people.

We are now living in Busselton, we’ve bought a home and look forward to the wonderful family lifestyle in this beautiful place.

…At 10.30pm on Monday 26th September 2011, our little Max was born, a healthy 3.8kg, 51cm tall, 7 and later 8 on the apgar tests. After a little struggle in the first week home, Max is now sleeping and feeding very well.

We feel great joy from having
this special baby in our family, and will always remember you
for teaching us how to improve our health, so that we could conceive naturally. thanking
you again,

CJM, Busselton

Cholesterol has been one of the top health issues of the past 50 years. We are constantly reminded of the dangers of it by medical associations, Government advertising and the shelves of our supermarkets are literally covered with “lite” non-cholesterol foods – yet evidence exists to show that cholesterol is not quite the villain it has been made out to be and is not the right target in the fight against heart disease.

Two key studies, “The Framingham Heart Study”, done by Harvard Medical School and the “Keys Seven Countries Study” showed that those with Cancer had cholesterol levels that were lower than average.

A large study done in Japan, covering two decades, concluded that low levels of blood cholesterol increases the incidents of stroke.

Results of 350,000 men screened for MRFIT in the US showed that the risk of death from cerebral haemorrhage in middle aged men was 6 x greater if they had low blood cholesterol.

On Christmas Eve 1997 the Frammingham researchers concluded “Intakes of fat and type of fat were not related to the incidents of the combined outcome of all cardiovascular diseases or to total cardiovascular mortality.

Decreases in blood cholesterol causes decreases in seratonin (hormone that helps with moods amongst other things) and brain function and since 1992 several observers have noticed increases in suicide among those on cholesterol lowering diets.

A study of the native peoples of New Zealand, the Maori, showed that those with the lowest levels of blood cholesterol had the highest mortality rate.

In 1993 the Caerphilly Study in Wales showed that men who drank more than a pint of full cream milk a day had only one tenth the incidence of heart disease as those who drunk none. They also demonstrated that those who ate a high energy diet lived longer than those who cut dietary fats. Their findings indicate that far from being a killer, the diet we are told to avoid by nutritionist may actually protect us against heart disease.

A 1994 Japanese paper examined the diets of those who lived to 100 and found out they got their protein from meat, not rice and pulses. The centenarians also had high intakes of animal food, such as egg, meat, milk and fish. Their carbohydrate intake was much lower than their fellow countrymen, who died younger.

Cholesterol is an essential component of the body, found in all cells of the body, particularly brain and nerve cells. Although we are taught by media and advertising that cholesterol is bad, the amount of cholesterol in the diet affects blood cholesterol levels very little.

Cholesterol and heart disease became linked in 1951 after American Doctor John Gofman dissected bodies of dead soldiers from the Korean War and discovered high levels of cholesterol and fatty deposits on arterial walls. They found cholesterol in the material that builds up on artery walls and also that those with heart disease often had high levels of blood cholesterol and so the heart disease and cholesterol became linked despite the fact that the fatty deposits found only contained cholesterol.

In 1981 240 risk factors were listed for heart disease. Today there are over 300, including such things as wearing tight pants and eating Mackerel.

Telling people who feel fit and well they are not and if they do not make changes to their life they can drop dead at any moment not only worries them unnecessarily it can have a profound effect upon their lives, to the degree that they become more concerned with death than life.

Post mortem examinations in a British university hospital showed that of the patients who died of a diagnosed specific heart disease over half had actually died of something else.

Doctors in Britain are reporting more and more cases of nutritional disorders, normally found in severely malnourished children in Africa, such as Kwashiorkor, Marasmus, and Rickets, and are blaming these on food fads, such as the ones triggered by the Cholesterol scare.

Health fanatics often advocate Mediterranean diets as they claim they are low in fat, but this is not true. Northern Italians love butter, the French cook with cream and butter as a preference and have pates made of goose fat, and Mediterranean’s are famous for their sausages, salamis and cheeses. It may be healthier than an American or British diet, but not lower in fat. One thing that the Mediterranean diet is high in, is foods that contribute to the lowering of Cholesterol, such as garlic, onions and red wine.

In regards to cholesterol testing, cholesterol levels can rise very fast, one of the effects of “fight or flight” is raised blood cholesterol levels. If you rush to your doctors clinic your cholesterol will be higher than if you walk calmly. If you are anxious about what your doctor says, and the idea of a needle concerns you, cholesterol levels will rise. Cholesterol testing levels are not accurate – and laboratory tests have shown that levels can change as much as 1.3mmol/l with different testing methods.

An example of this is let’s say you are 30 years old, your cholesterol levels are a respectable 6.0 mmol/l. You hurry to a surgery and are anxious about the result. This could raise by more than 25% to 7.5mmol. If it is sent to a lab giving the high reading, it could raise by a further 1.3mmol/l, so your 6.0mmol/l is now 8.8mmol/l.

The Tecumseh Study attempted to correlate cholesterol levels one day with the amount of fats eaten the previous day but found none. People who ate the least cholesterol had the highest levels of blood cholesterol.

Also the study found that blood cholesterol levels were quite independent of whether the dietary fat was saturated or unsaturated.

A Finish trial published in 1975 recommended that a “healthy diet” was recommended as cholesterol levels were lowered with this, however, 10 years later a follow up trial was done and it found that those people who continued to follow the carefully controlled diet were twice as likely to die of heart disease.

Recent US studies show that heart disease worsened in those who switched from butter to polyunsaturated rich margarine. Research published in March 1993 confirmed this in a study that involved 85,000 nurses, women who ate just four teaspoons of margarine per day had a 66% increased risk of coronary heart disease compared to those who ate none. The Frammingham Study published in 1995 concluded “intake of margarine may predispose to development of coronary heart disease in men.” According to the MAFF National Food Survey the amount of fats in our diet today is almost the same as it was at the beginning of the century yet heart disease is significantly higher. At the turn of the century we ate mainly animal fats that are largely saturated and monosaturated. Now we are tending to eat more polyunsaturated fats, because of advice given to us, yet such things as margarine were supposed to reduce heart disease.

This information certainly rocks the cholesterol boat and shatters many fixed ideas about this condition that worries so many and fills the bank accounts of many. In conclusion it seems cholesterol is not quite the villain it has been made out to be and that much of the source of fatty degeneration of arterial walls and chronic heart disease is more to do with the unnatural diets we are exposed to from processed foods, such as margarine.

My Recommendations

Come and see me for personalized recommendations. There is a homeopathic formula I like to give many of my clients to help with this condition, and there are other more specific recommendations too that are beneficial, depending on the underlying factors from person to person.

Bowel health because is such an important part of overall wellbeing. It’s a very common topic in my consultations, partly because problems are common and partly because it is so important.

Following are some simple suggestions to help with constipation. It is strongly recommended that you contact me to resolve constipation problems that have a more chronic and serious nature, as further remedies to those mentioned below will be required.

Treating long term constipation problems is probably one of the most important steps you can do to protect your health into the future.

You need a healthy gut to absorb all the nutrients you will need for detoxification, which is a vital process in the body.

The bowel and liver also play an essential role in eliminating poisons from your body. It is normal, and healthy, to have a minimum of one, and preferably two or more, bowel motions daily, which cuts down on the time that toxic matter is sitting in the bowel, putrefying, fermenting, and polluting your body. It also reduces the occurrence of ‘leaky bowel’, whereby toxins are reabsorbed back into the bloodstream potentially contributing to a whole variety of conditions, from headaches and sinus problems to acne and asthma.

Your motions should be easy to pass and well formed, float in the toilet bowl rather than sink, should not smell foul, and should not be accompanied by mucus.

Constipation
Constipation is defined as less than one bowel movement per day, or difficult, incomplete evacuation of dry, hardened stools. If constipation is a problem I would suggest using fibre supplements rather than irritating laxatives. Fibre supplements provide bulk and moisture for smooth elimination without irritation. Wheat bran is often used, but can become irritating to the intestines, and can have an impact on the absorption of iron and other minerals. Oat bran is preferable. Pectin, from apples, or citrus fruits, also detoxifies the gut, and lowers cholesterol levels, as does guar gum, all providing for sources of soluble dietary fibre, that will go well with insoluble fibre such as psyllium husks. These act gently, form soft and bulky stools which should be easy to pass and which importantly act as effective detoxifiers. Freshly squeezed lemon juice, taken in filtered water, first thing in the morning, is also an excellent remedy for constipation.

Laxatives
In contrast, laxatives do not address the underlying problems and they work through an irritant action on the bowel, which will eventually compromise healthy bowel function. Their overuse can also result in depletion of potassium and other nutrients. If a laxative must be used, we recommend aloe vera juice, butternut bark or in in more severe cases, senna.

Acidophilus
Acidophilus is also extremely useful in keeping the gut healthy, since it provides beneficial intestinal flora.

Slippery Elm

Slippery Elm powder assists the smooth flow of the faeces, as do herbs, such as marshmallow root, barley, licorice or plantain leaves.

Zinc

Zinc is an important mineral for bowel detoxification, among many other important functions

Fibre
Roughage, which can be found in most vegetables and fruits, which should preferably be eaten raw. Figs, both fresh and dried, are especially helpful. However, remember that the sugar content of fruits, especially dried ones, is high, so restrict yourself to 2 to 3 pieces daily. Other high fibre foods include corn and brown rice, lentils, beans, peas, sprouts, seeds and nuts.

Water
Adequate water intake is important to keep the faeces liquid, which will help to keep constipation at bay. Olive oil helps too and promotes bile secretion in the liver, stimulates bowel contraction, and soothes mucous membranes. It is best taken in cold-pressed form, and not heated.

Bowel Cleansing

Other ways of cleansing the bowel include colonic irrigation, which is a form of enema that uses water under pressure, and which therefore penetrates further into the colon. Colonics cleanse from rectum to caecum and eliminate toxins and putrefactive matter. Colonics can be combined with herbal remedies to loosen the more stubborn waste stuck on to the wall of the intestine. Both colonics and enemas need to be followed with Acidophilus to reline the gut. Colonic irrigation must be carried out by someone trained to do this.

Exercise
Exercise is also important as it helps digestion and stimulates the motion of the large intestine which passes the food along through the gut, and massage of the abdominal region can also have a similar effect.

Liver Detoxification
Bowel detoxification should be followed up with a liver detox. The liver is perhaps the most important detoxification organ in the body, and there are many foods and nutrients which help it to function well. For help with this please come and see me and I will recommend specific remedies for you.

An easy self-help remedy for liver function is the juice of a freshly squeezed lemon, diluted in (purified) water, and drunk first thing each morning, before breakfast.

Analysis of current evidence has recently concluded that Echinacea is effective in reducing both the incidence and duration of the common cold. Echinacea was found to decrease the odds of a patient contracting a cold by 58% and to decrease the duration of a cold by 1.4 days. Also, in a human trial for the immune effect of Echinacea the results showed Echinacea to have a sustained level of immune cell activation. In my experience Echinacea is of most use as a long term remedy to build immunity and to prevent colds and during the winter months I recommend taking Echinacea (liquid form is best) daily to help ward off colds and flus. Echinacea is also a blood purifier and stimulates digestion.

Olive Leaf Extract is a powerful anti-viral and is of good use in fighting any condition where the immune system is compromised. It will also detox the body so take in conservative amounts as there can be detox side effects as the body cleans out if taken at too high a dose. Feel free to check with me before starting.

If you find yourself with a cold starting, treating it quickly will help to either stop it fully developing or will greatly reduce the duration and intensity of the cold.

At the very first onset I recommend you take a clove of garlic, chop it finely, and take it on a spoon with water and swallow (take after food). This can help to abort colds if done early enough. Another way to prepare this is to take 10 cloves of garlic and chop up finely. Add three table spoons of honey and store in a jar. Take a teaspoon as soon as you notice a sign of cold for flu. If you already have a cold take one teaspoon three teaspoon three times per day. This mixture should also be taken after food.

Secondly I recommend adults take 3 grams of Vitamin C two times per day until symptoms pass and children should take the recommended dose on the bottle.

During a cold I recommend avoiding sugar and dairy because of their mucus forming properties.

Blackmores do a good product called PCIP which is effective against colds and this should be taken with Vitamin C. This is particularly useful in treating infection accompanied by mucus and fever.

Homeopathy is also a powerful tool against the common cold and flu. Constitutional Homeopathic AB2 is used as a homeopathic cold preventative (one dose is taken every two weeks) and can be used by all the family from toddlers to adults. There are also other homeopathics that can be used to help reduce a colds duration and intensity – let me know if you have any questions relation to these.

Many of the clients I see start their day with caffeine and end it with alcohol on a daily basis. An occasional alcoholic drink is fine, but the question is at what point does it start to negatively affect one’s health.

Recent dramatic TV advertising has been pushing the negative effects of excessive alcohol consumption. In addition to this we are often reminded to drink responsibly. Having said this, the balance side is that drinking has for thousands of years been a sociable thing to do in many parts of the world, particularly in Europe and the Mediterranean countries, where its not considered such a problem. In general having the occasional drink can be a pleasurable experience, but the key is to keep it in balance.

In general I recommend the following as a guide:

• Drink lightly when you do have alcohol, such as one or two drinks only in an evening.
• Alternate alcohol with non-alcoholic drinks, particularly water.
• Slow down the speed that alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream by eating with your drink, but having said this avoid salty foods, which may increase your thirst.
• If you are consuming alcohol regularly, ensure you have several days a week that are alcohol free.
• Wine is a preferred alcoholic drink over spirits with mixers and beer, as a glass of wine can aid digestion somewhat and has more nutritional value than other alcoholic beverages. Wine particularly red wine is high in Resveratrol, which is an antioxidant. Red wine consumption in Mediterranean countries has been linked to their high longevity rates, as well as other things in their diet.
• I can recommend things to help balance the effect of excess or heavy alcohol consumption, but I’m not of course advocating or supporting this.
• Children, teenagers under 18 years old, pregnant and breast-feeding women should keep away from alcohol entirely, and those on certain medications or with specific health issues

Calories with minimal nutrients
Not only does alcohol contribute calories without nutrients but it also increases your risk of weight gain, high blood pressure, liver disease, dementia and more.

Alcohol is packed with sugar, which is pro-inflammation in the body, which is a key reason why it is damaging.

If you do enjoy a drink occasionally, consider taking appropriate herbal or nutritional supplements to help minimise long term effects.

Effects of drinking too much alcohol
Drinking too much alcohol is known to damage the liver and pancreas and can also damage the lining of the intestinal tract and negatively affect the absorption and metabolism of nutrients. It can also contribute to problems such as tiredness, anxiety, depression and affect how a person feels mentally and emotionally.

Regular heavy alcoholic consumption increases the body’s need for B vitamins, Vitamins A and C as well as the minerals zinc, magnesium and calcium.

You may also have seen the TV ads that are being run presently, which physically show how too much alcohol can contribute to cancer.

Craving alcohol   
This can indicate nutritional deficiencies, such as protein, calcium and potassium, which can be helped by dietary changes and supplements.

There are homeopathic remedies that can assist greatly with cravings and its best to come and see me if this relates to you and I can advise which suit you personally.

When alcohol becomes a problem
If a person finds their consumption of alcohol is affecting such things as sleep, mental alertness, mood and energy levels, or any other areas of one’s life negatively, it’s time to look at the amount of alcohol being consumed. Drinking too much affects not only the health and life of the person having the alcohol, but also family and productivity at work. In such a case I recommend coming to see me so that remedies to help with cravings and detoxification can be applied.

Something can often be done about ADHD without having to put our children on drugs

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is being diagnosed in up to a staggering 20% of school children. The three common issues identified are impulsiveness, being easily distracted and hyperactivity. Other key features are a child that is emotional changeability, lack of good co-ordination, short attention span, lack of organizing, perceptual motor impairment, among other things. Because there has been no definitive test for the condition, many feel it is highly over diagnosed, with dozens of completely different childhood problems lumped together under this “convenient” heading.

Underlying Cause
For many children there is an overwhelming environmental factor at play, such as dietary toxins, food additives and drugs, coupled with poor nutrition which provides little protection for the sensitive systems in the body, such as the nervous, immune and hormonal systems. Teaching methods and stresses at home can also be contributing factors.

It is worth noting too that learning disability, minimal brain dysfunction and hyperactivity have been shown to be associated with food allergies. Prenatal nutrition and toxicity also have very real affects on fetal development.

75% of children with ADHD have been shown to have blood sugar abnormalities, and this is a key area. Meanwhile, Nutrasweet and Aspartame (found in many soft drinks) are both associated with neurological side-effects.

Grape seed extract is known to help ADHD because it neutralizes many of these dangerous free radicals, and there are other natural remedies that can be specifically applied also.

Medications

A million and a half children are now taking Ritalin – a form of “Speed”. Though this “works” for several hours in 60-75% of children the side effects can include such things as a loss of several inches in height, poor appetite, insomnia, tics and personality changes, as well as other side effects. In spite of using Ritalin, the condition for two thirds of childhood ADHD sufferers persists into adulthood, so the condition is not be cured in these people. The toxic effect of drugs is another issue that shouldn’t be forgotten.

The use of Ritalin has raised concern in the medical and legal professions. Here is a quote from Health and Nursing Issues:

“A NSW Judge had slammed doctors for creating a generation of Ritalin kids now committing violent crimes and coming before courts. Judge Paul Conlon said ADHD was the most over-diagnosed condition in the community, with “naughty kids whacked” on to drugs like the powerful stimulant Ritalin. Judge Conlon said he was worried because the effect on the mental health of children who were given powerful drugs they didn’t need was unknown…”

The amount of Ritalin being prescribed is rising. In 1992 there were 11,114 prescriptions in Australia, as compared to 264,000 in 1996. There are many reasons why a child might be displaying behavioural or educational problems and rather than drugging, the real cause should be identified and addressed, such as nutritional deficiencies, blood sugar imbalances, lack of exercise.

Natural Therapy

To treat behavioural problems, including ADHD, both lifestyle changes and nutritional therapy is normally recommended, as follows:-

Diet

Eliminate foods with artificial colours and flavourings. This will involve a lot of label reading and the best solution is to have a diet of fresh, unprocessed whole foods, with no junk or tinned foods.

Eliminate sugar and sugar-added foods, e.g. lollies, chocolates, cakes etc. Sugar provides no nutritional benefit at all and requires a lot of other nutrients to process it. You can substitute with dried fruits or plain fruit.

Supplement the Diet

A well balanced diet rich in nutrients is essential for brain development, particularly in young children. In fact, many children with nutrient deficiencies have significant cognitive and behavioural problems. The body requires extra nutritional tools and equipment to heal and rebalance and I recommend children supplement with specific minerals and take a homeopathic complex, Bio AI, to treat ADHD symptoms and rebalance the body. These have shown to greatly improve the symptoms.

Exercise

This is important and should be undertaken daily to burn up energy, stimulate and get fresh air. Children who are inside watching TV and playing computer games for long periods of time and not exercising are much more likely to be restless and have behavioural problems.

If you or your child has been diagnosed with ADHD please contact me if you would like further advice or recommendations.

With winter fast approaching, I am seeing more people in practice with body aches and pains, such as arthritis, backaches or sore muscles. Where you find pain you find inflammation as almost all pain is caused by inflammation in the body.

Many people put the aches and pains they are experiencing down to old age and the cold weather – which typically exacerbate symptoms. However these aches and pains are often telling us that something deeper is happening in the body, with inflammation as the response. Instead of masking the pain with painkillers, isolating the cause and addressing it is often the answer, both to help direct our health into the future and also to relieve symptoms now.

ARTHRITIS

Arthritis is a painful condition which affects mobility and which causes discomfort and pain. There is much that can be done naturally to help ease symptoms, from Glucosamine Sulfate and Fish Oil to homeopathic remedies matched to the specific symptoms a person is experiencing. Additionally, diet can play an important role, which will depend on the individual, but in some cases dairy and tomatoes can contribute to inflammation and make matters worse. Foods that are of the Deadly Nightshade family, which include potatoes, capsicum, paprika, cayenne pepper, chili peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes, can also have a negative impact on arthritic conditions, and generally should be avoided for those with arthritis.

JOINT PAIN AND ACIDITY IN THE BODY

Inflammation and joint pain often occurs in bodies which are too acidic and out of balance. When the body’s acid/alkaline balance is out, the body’s immune response is compromised and with too much acidity the body doesn’t eliminate toxins efficiently, which in itself contributes to inflammation, as well as being at the root potentially of other health problems.

Western diets typically result in too much acidity. Rebalancing acidity in the body is a big topic, but there are some basic principals that can be easily applied. All natural foods contain both acid and alkaline forming elements. In some, acid forming elements dominate, in others alkaline forming elements dominate. The key is to opt for lots of leafy, green vegetables, vegetable juicing, and raw salads, while at the same time avoiding acid forming foods/drinks. These include coffee, alcohol, sugar and white flour, which can be cut out quite easily. Other acid forming foods are animal products, which should only generally be eaten in small portions in balance with vegetables and salads.

HOMEOPATHICS

There are specific homeopathics which can be applied to conditions associated with aches and pains in the body, which are very effective in helping ease the pain and correcting the condition.

For example Ruta Grav is a useful homeopathic in treating Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) and something I have seen great results with in a short space of time, even when people have exhausted many other forms of treatment.

Rhus Tox is a useful general homeopathic for arthritis, and there are many others that can applied more specifically to this condition.

Arnica is ideal for achy, bruised feelings in the body.

OTHER USEFUL NATURAL REMEDIES

TUMERIC – Turmeric has general health benefits and is also a very useful anti-inflammatory.

SILICA CALCIUM FLUORIDE -These minerals are useful for eliminating arthritic spurs and also for tendonitis and injuries.

BIOFLAVONOIDS – Bioflavonoids are anti-inflammatory and beneficial for many conditions made worse by inflammation.

FISH OIL – Using fish oil for inflammatory conditions at the highest recommended doses can be beneficial.

GLUCOSAMINE – This useful anti-inflammatory, particularly useful for arthritis sufferers. It is good to get a Glucosamine product with Chondroitin and MSM for best results.

CREAMS & OILS – There are a number of creams and oils that can be used topically, including Arnica cream and Emu Oil are also excellent.

REPAIRING THE BODY FROM INJURY

There is also much that can be applied naturally to assist with recovery from injury, such as whiplash, back pain or even deep cuts and surgical procedures. This often takes the form of homeopathics, and is something I can advise on depending on the individual case.

MANIPULATIVE THERAPY

In some cases manipulative therapy is a useful adjunct to natural remedies, or vice versa. Bowen Therapy is something that I often recommend to my clients experiencing backache for example, as it seems to require the least amount of sessions to bring about results.

If you have any questions about body aches and pains, or your health in general please let me know.

I wanted to share with you some very encouraging information about the effectiveness of vitamins in tackling dementia and Alzheimer’s, with results challenging those of conventional medicine.

I came across an article by Professor David Smith (Emeritus Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Oxford and co-founder of OPTIMA) recently in the UK’s Daily Mail, entitled:

“The 10p-a-day vitamin supplement that tackles dementia: So why is the drug industry spending billions?”

DEMENTIA ON THE INCREASE

Life expectancy is around 80 today, whereas 100 years ago it was much lower, at around 52. Modern medicine provides life saving surgery, organ replacements, cures for many diseases, as well as there being a much greater knowledge of diet and natural medicine. With all this progress and a much later life expectancy, dementia has come to affect many people later in life. 250,000 Australians suffer from some form of the disease, which leads to mental decline, memory loss, speech and movement problems, and death.

DRUGS FOR ALZHEIMER’S

Professor Smith describes how the world’s bestselling medication for Alzheimer’s improves memory function in patients with mild to moderate problems, helping about a third of full Alzheimer’s sufferers; others will get no benefit or suffer side effects. He says that for those for whom it works, the drug improves quality of life for a year or two. After that, since the brain damage caused by the disease progresses, patients may show a marked decline. He goes on to say that the drug is widely used because it is the best drug of its kind, but that he believes if we are to beat this horrific illness, a more broadminded approach is needed.

He describes the problems with Alzheimer drug research being almost entirely based on the ‘amyloid hypothesis’, a theory about what causes Alzheimer’s that he says appears to be increasingly invalid. With all their eggs in one basket,

“Billions of pounds have been spent, and every single trial has failed. Some drugs made the symptoms of dementia worse.”

INTERVENING EARLY WITH VITAMINS

In 2006 they recruited 270 elderly people with memory problems and gave them Vitamin B tablets – folic acid, B12 and B6.

The supplements, which cost as little as 10 pence a day, were found to slow shrinkage of the brain by an average of 30% a year – and slow the rate of cognitive decline – in people with high blood levels of homocysteine. Raised levels of this amino acid can increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s three or four-fold.

He describes:

“By regulating homocysteine with B vitamins, they showed for the first time it is possible to slow the progress of the disease, if you start early. More trials are needed to test whether continued treatment can delay its progress indefinitely, but B vitamins have been shown to be as good clinically as Aricept – and better in that they slow the disease progression rather than ease the symptoms.”

He says:

“…those with memory problems should have their homocysteine measured and be started on B vitamins, under medical guidance. Normal dietary intake isn’t enough. One (200ml) glass of semi-skimmed milk contains 2.5 micrograms of B12, and most manage to eat five micrograms a day. But we do know people with high Vitamin B intakes are less likely to develop dementia, so every little helps … For OPTIMA, the next step is a trial of 1,000 people… to see if B vitamins prevent the conversion to dementia over a two-year period. Can Alzheimer’s Disease be beaten? I am optimistic.”

Co-researcher Professor Helga Refsum commented:

‘Here we have a very simple solution: you give some vitamins and you seem to protect the brain.’

The results suggest that a basic cocktail of vitamins can achieve results that have evaded pharmaceutical companies, despite billions of pounds being spent on experimental dementia drugs.

Professor Smith said:

“This was a disease-modifying study. All other disease modifying trials have failed. What we can say is that this is the first one that shows a glimmer of hope and success.”

If you feel you have memory problems come and see me and I can make recommendations of remedies, including B vitamins, as well as homeopathics.

Incorporating fresh juices into your daily routine is an easy and enjoyable way to ensure you are having fresh, raw, unprocessed foods in your diet. Juicing helps to pre-digest the nutrients, which in turn promotes a higher absorption level. Juicing also helps you to include more vegetables into your daily diet. Juicing has broad effects across a person’s health and in fact are considered remedies their own right.

A personal favourite of mine is carrot, apple and ginger as a healthy energy tonic. The ginger is also particularly useful as it is a stomach tonic to help settle upset or sensitive digestion. I recommend you drink the juices straight after you make them so as to prevent valuable nutrient loss It’s best not to mix vegetable and fruits (other than apple) because of the fermentation that can occur. You don’t need to follow recipes necessarily and can have fun experimenting.

Here are some of the nutritional qualities of common ingredients:

Cucumber: Kidney tonic, skin tonic.

Cabbage: Stomach repair, joint stiffness.

Beets: Blood cleanser, gall bladder and liver tonic.

Broccoli: Renowned for anticancer properties.

Blueberries: Antibacterial properties and eases digestive upsets and cystitis.

Apples: Liver tonic, gall stones.

Celery: Nerve tonic, helps to relieve joint pain, good source of potassium.

Garlic: Blood cleanser, decongestant, and antiviral and antibacterial properties.

Ginger: Circulatory and digestive tonic.

Spinach: Excellent sources of carotenoids and Vitamin C.

Pears: Good source of fibre, Vitamin C and bioflavonoids.

Wheat Grass: Super-antioxidant.

Cranberries: Flavonoids, anti bacterial and anti inflammatory, kidney cleanser.

Carrots: Blood cleanser.

I also often suggest taking a good quality multivitamin for energy levels, and also as a general supplement to give your body the tools and equipment it needs on a daily basis.

correcting underlying metabolic and fatigue problems before trying to lose weight will bring about a much more fruitful result

Many people come to see me with difficulties losing weight. With a Naturopathic consultation we can identify if there are any predisposing factors, which make it harder to lose weight and keep the weight off. 

Feeling tired and having a poor metabolism are quite closely linked to each other and will contribute to weight gain and difficulty in losing weight, so these areas are essential to address before trying to go cold turkey on a diet (excuse the pun!) Such underlying factors can be picked up with iridology.

I have met hundreds of people in consultation whose diets are often excellent and should be resulting in them losing weight, yet because of fatigue and poor metabolism the body is unable to burn off existing weight. Correcting energy levels and poor metabolism is relatively simple and is something I can help you with.

The other key thing with weight loss is that sugar, not fat is really the problem. Sugar converts to fat in the body. Classic examples of sugary foods are chocolate, soft drinks, cakes, biscuits.

The other key type of food that will contribute to weight gain and which develops into fat are the carbohydrates, such as bread, potato, pasta, rice, cereals, root vegetables, and any kind of food with a starchy texture. Carbohydrate is another word for sugar.

In a typical western diet we tend to eat too many carbs, in fact every meal often contains them. There is nothing actually wrong with carbohydrates, they have been part of the staple diet around the world for thousands of years, but when trying to lose weight this is the wrong food to have lots of.

The simple equation with weight loss is to put less energy into the body than the body is actually burning up. If this is done weight loss can occur. This is why fats are not such a problem as they can be metabolized, broken down and eliminated from the body.

Eliminating carbs from the diet can result in physical fatigue, so a busy Mum for example is going to need some carbs to keep the body’s engine turning over and to help keep fatigue at bay.

The idea is to work out a diet where you are not having too much carbohydrate in your diet. An example of this would be to have for breakfast no cereal, porridge, or toast and to have instead to have something like a couple of eggs or yogurt with nuts and fruit for example. Lunch could be some cold meats, fish (tinned fish is not recommended more than once a week) with vegetables or salad. Dinner could then include some carbohydrate, along with some grilled fish or meat and salad. In the day you can have snacks such as cold meats, fruit and nuts (but not bananas as they are high in carbohydrate). The key word here is balance. And you can alternate when you have carbohydrates and how much you have from day to day so that you find something that suits you. Finding a balance where you are having enough carbs in your diet so that you are not feeling physically weak but so you are also losing weight is the key. If you find yourself getting hungry this is a sign your body will actually start to burn up fat, and it’s one of those things which can go along with weight loss. However you can mitigate this by having healthy snacks and filling up on non-sugary foods and low carb foods so that you can lose weight as comfortably as possible.

Losing weight is harder to do than gaining weight, because you are having to reverse the weight gain. Once someone is at a weight they are happy with maintaining this weight level is a lot easier.

There is no real quick fix, magic potion that a person can take to lose weight while at the same time carrying on the lifestyle which contributed to the weight gain in the first place.

A physical trainer makes no bones about the hard work that can be required to lose weight. A lot of the products which are available in healthfood stores can provide an extra shoulder behind the wheel, but it still requires discipline and dietary changes to lose the weight.

It should not be forgotten though that to correct underlying metabolic and fatigue problems before trying to lose weight will bring about a much more fruitful result.

CASE EXAMPLE

Here is a typical example of someone who came to see me. This lady was in her late 30s and had been trying to lose weight for several months. While on a very strict diet, she had noticed she had lost some weight, but the amount of effort she needed to put into it was too draining on her as she was working and looking after a family.

An iridology session revealed an underactive thyroid and a nervous system that was operating at about 70% of its potential. These two factors combined meant that the food she was eating was not being correctly burnt up by the body, but was being stored in the body as fat.

She had in fact had a thyroid blood test analysis at her doctor’s, which had not picked this up, this is because blood levels fluctuate throughout the day and it can be easily missed with blood tests.

I recommended some minerals and homeopathics to help with building up the thyroid and increasing her metabolism and to restore her nervous system. This built her energy levels up, increasing them from 70% to about 85%, with the first course of remedies.

With some simple dietary steps to avoid sugar and carbohydrates in her diet and a combination of the natural remedies she soon started to lose weight a lot more easily and after just a few days contacted me to let me know that she was moving weight more efficiently at a new level.

I continued to work with her and she reached her ideal weight after a couple of months, and from there is finding it relatively straightforward to maintain by sticking to a few simple steps.

Here are some quick reference points for common signs and symptoms of nutritional deficiencies that you may come across. These in turn can indicate deeper things happening within the body, something which can be assessed with IRIDOLOGY.

Soft or brittle nails:
Silica / Magnesium deficiency

Tired all the time:
B vitamins, minerals

Stretch marks:
Zinc deficiency

Dry scaly skin with hair follicles plugged with coiled distorted hairs and a red halo:
Vitamin C deficiency

Bleeding gums:
Vitamin C deficiency

Bags or dark rings under eyes:
Allergies or food intolerances

Poor healing:
Zinc deficiency

Pre-menstrual syndrome:
Magnesium, zinc, B6 or essential fatty acid deficiencies

Arthritis:
Boron and sulphur (MSM) deficiency

Persistent diarrhea leading to fatigue:
Magnesium and potassium deficiencies

Shaking hands:
Magnesium and vitamin B1 deficiency

Sensitivity to light:
Magnesium deficiency

Hair loss:
Thyroid, iron stores (must measure serum ferritin), biotin, zinc and essential fatty acid deficiencies

Frequent colds:
Zinc and vitamin C deficiencies

Poor sense of smell and taste:
Zinc deficiency

Dandruff, eczema, excessive ear was production, poor wound healing, excessive thirst (especially in hyperactive children), pre-menstrual symptoms of any sort:
Essential fatty acid deficiency

Persistent infections:
Vitamin C and zinc deficiencies

Muscle twitching and cramps:
Magnesium deficiency

Cracked heels:
Zinc, omega 3 essential fatty acid deficiencies

Red dots on the side of tongue (often seen in children):
Calcium phosphate deficiency

Cracking at the corners of the mouth:
Iron, vitamins B2, B6 and folic acid deficiencies

Recurrent mouth ulcers:
Iron, folic acid, vitamin B12

Dry, cracked lips:
Vitamin B2

Smooth, sore tongue:
Iron, vitamins B2, B12, folic acid

Fissured tongue:
Vitamin B3

Enlargement (prominence) of taste buds at the tip of the tongue (red, sore):
Vitamins B2 or B6

Bruising or enlargement of veins under the tongue:
Vitamin C

Red, greasy skin on face, especially sides of nose:
Vitamins B2, B6, zinc or essential fatty acids

Rough, sometimes red, pimply skin on supper arms and thighs:
Vitamin B complex, vitamin E or essential fatty acids

Skin conditions such as eczema, dry rough cracked peeling skin:
Zinc, essential fatty acids

Poor hair growth:
Iron or zinc

Dandruff:
Vitamin C, B6, zinc, essential fatty acids

Bloodshot, gritty, sensitive eyes:
Vitamin A or B2

Night blindness:
Vitamin A or zinc

Dry eyes:
Vitamin A, essential fatty acids

Brittle or split nails:
Iron, zinc or essential fatty acids

White spots on nails:
Zinc

Pale appearance due to anemia:
Iron, vitamin B12, folic acid (it’s essential to consult a doctor if you are anemic)

Easy bruising:
Bioflavonoids, Vitamin E

These may also have other causes so it’s best to come and see me if you notice any of these apply to you and I can recommend things for you to take. I am always interested to hear how you’re going and if you or your family would like any assistance with your health please don’t hesitate to contact me.

I’m often asked about whether or not coffee is good or bad for us so I wanted to give you some more information about this, which will also apply to strong teas that, like coffee, are toxic. Some of us seem to be able to tolerate caffeine better than others. I recommend that heavy coffee drinkers, that is those who consume more than 2-3 cups of instant coffee a day or who have more than one filter coffee a day (cappuccino, latte’s, espresso, long black, etc) in particular take steps to reduce caffeine intake.

I have been asked is the “buzz” of energy from coffee bad for me?  Many people think, “I can’t get up and out in the morning without my coffee.”

Another question is how coffee causes the bowels to move.  Some people say, “I am regular as clockwork as long as I drink my coffee.”

It is important to have energy and to regularly detoxify waste from the body; however, for the good coffee appears to be doing, when you understand how coffee does this, you may want to reconsider drinking coffee.

Understanding Why Coffee Affects the Bowels

Most people are aware of the ill affect of drinking coffee because it contains caffeine.  Actually, coffee is a narcotic beverage.  The caffeine in the coffee belongs to the same chemicals as morphine, cocaine and strychnine.  It is no surprise then why people have such a difficult time, at first, letting go of coffee, and replacing it with healthier beverages.  Caffeine combines with the stomach acid and forms a potent toxin.  As this toxin is absorbed into your portal circulation and hits your liver, bile is released in an attempt to flush the toxin from your system.  This accounts for the increase in bowel “regularity” which many coffee drinkers experience.

Coffee Contains Harmful Chemicals

Drinking decaffeinated coffee is no better than drinking regular coffee because of the large concentration of the chemical Trichloroethylene.  It is used mainly as a de-greasing agent in the metal industry and as a solvent and dry cleaning agent in the clothing industry.  Trichloroethylene is related to plastic chemical vinyl chloride, which has been linked to certain types of liver cancer. Columbian coffee planters have regularly used deadly pesticides on their plants for over 20 years.  Some include Aldrin, Dieldrin, Chlordane and Heptachlor.  Some speculate that coffee beans are the most significant source of these deadly toxins in U.S.

The extreme temperatures in the roasting process of coffee beans depletes the beans of its natural oils.  Though it may enhance their aroma, high heat actually causes the oils to become rancid.

Coffee Overworks the Adrenals

Coffee has an acid-based oil which is an irritant to gastric mucosa. It simulates the secretion of gastric acidity and this results in secretion of adrenalin, which in turn stimulates insulin secretion with consequent secondary hypoglycaemia.  The end results are tension, mild rise in blood pressure, 2-3 hours later a craving for sweets, low energy and mood levels, and over working of the adrenal glands.  All of which negatively affects health.

Coffee Causes Nutritional Deficiencies

Heavy coffee drinkers create Thiamine (Vitamin B1) insufficiency.  Symptoms of Vitamin B1 insufficiency range from fatigue, nervousness, general malaise, general aches and pains to headaches.

Regular use of coffee prevents some of the nutrients in your food from being absorbed effectively in your small intestines, which leads to further vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

The Buzz from Coffee

The “buzz” or stimulation you get from coffee actually contributes to re-bound fatigue when the stimulating effects wear off.  Repeated stimulation can contribute to the exhaustion of key organs like the liver, pancreas and adrenal glands.

Long Term Coffee Drinking May Contribute to Toxic Liver

Because of the overload on the liver to detoxify chemical residues, long-term coffee drinkers often have a toxic, congested liver and impure blood.  The function of the liver is to filter the blood so the blood can nourish the cells.  Just like your car’s oil filter, filters the oil that gets distributed through your automobile.  When the liver is congested, it cannot function properly.  The blood does not get filtered and it circulates through the body depositing impure blood into the cells.  The cells, then, cannot regenerate and grow healthy tissue.  The long-term effect, when cells cannot regenerate, is its opposite — degenerative cells  which leads to degenerative diseases.

An example of a toxic, congested liver is dark spots on the skin as the person gets older.  Some people refer to them as brown or liver spots.  In later years, these spots merge to the point that they no longer appear as spots, but discoloration of skin.  Other examples include a lack of absorption of minerals resulting in gray hair, a protruded stomach, constipation, spastic colons, irritable bowels, a swollen or enlarged gall bladder, and high cholesterol and triglycerides, even after faithfully following a cholesterol-free or limiting diet.  In fact, many new clients come to me frustrated because they have been watching their cholesterol intake for months, even years, and still have high cholesterol.  This is a definite sign that the liver is congested and over-producing cholesterol.

Weaning Off Coffee

If you are a heavy coffee drinker and want to reduce your coffee consumption this needs to be done gradually. Coming off coffee “cold turkey” can produce some quite uncomfortable side effects, such as headaches and nausea. If someone is drinking, for example, eight cups of coffee a day they should go to seven cups of coffee for a couple of days, then six for a couple of days, and then five and so on. Reducing the size of your cup and the strength of the coffee is another way you can gradually reduce the amount of caffeine and wean off the coffee. Another useful tip is to say to yourself when you want to have a coffee that if you still want it in 30 minutes time you can have it then, very often people forget and the craving passes. Healthy alternatives include herbal teas, pure water, or hot water with a slice of lemon.

Conclusion

To improve your health, it is important to eliminate toxic substances from your diet, such as coffee and strong teas, and then detoxify the chemical residues in the liver, resulting from long-term ingestion of these substances.

Some health benefits reported from clients during and after this process are: beautiful skin (liver and brown spots disappear – even in the elderly); gray hair turns to natural colours of brown or black, cholesterol and triglycerides become normal without following a cholesterol-free diet, stomachs become flatter that never could before even with exercise, energy and endurance increases, gall bladders improve, bowels eliminate regularly without spasms or irritability, blood pressure becomes normal and many others.

For information about detoxifying the liver and helping reduce coffee consumption please contact me directly. There are natural remedies that can help with craving for coffee also.